Welt needle for knitting machines



Nov; 4, 1930.

4 F. SUTCLIFFE, JR WELT NEEDLE FORKNITTING max-tans Patented Nov. 4, 193d UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE "FRED BU'IGLIFFE, 13., PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB 1'0 Mock, SON, VOEHRINGEB COMPANY, INC., '01? PHILADELPHIA, PIRI'NSYLVANIA, A 003- ]?ORATION OF DELAWARE warn momma roa xm'rme mlcmivrs Application filed February 15, 1980. Serial No. 428,764.

apparatus or the knitted product, to whichend the needle comprises a shank with the usual butt at one end, a sprin beard-"near the. o posite end and a pointe and curved end eyond the beard. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a typical needle, the same being enlarged.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a bottom view. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modification illustrating the mode of forming the needle. Fi 5 is a side elevation of the completed nee e.

Fig. 6 is a plan view. Referring to Figs. 1 2 and 3, 1 indicates the shank of the needle provided with an angularly disposed butt 2 at one end and a tapered, pointed and laterall curved outer end 3. Onev side of the nee Is is provided with the usual longitudinal roove 4 and the diametrically opposite side 1s provided with a spring beard which, in the form shown, is made up of 5 of substantial channel shape, which terminates in the integral bent spring section 6, which constitutes the beard proper, the end of which is adapted to be forced downwardly into thechannel-like section 5 during the stripping operation. To facilitate the freeing of the loops from the needle, the upper edges of the channel-like member 5 are inclined in both directions, producin a hump-like effect over which theloops wil readily pass. The member 5 is rigidly secured to the side of the needle opposite that which carries the longitudinal groove 4, referably b welding.

nstead of i ormin the needle of two parts, which are we ded together in the manner and form just described, it may be made of a single section of steel, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, Fig. 4 indicating by a base sectionfull lines the shape of the steel spindle in its initial straight form, in which the shank 1 is extended in a tapering forward section, the rear end of the shank being adapted to be bent to form a butt 2 and the forward-end bent backward toward the body of the shank to constitute the spring beard, the end of which is adapted to be depressed into an eye or recess 5'common to needles ,of this character and theopposite side of 'the needle being provided with a longitudinal groove The end of the needle carrying the spring heard is first bent to the position shown in F ig'. 4, in which the.

loop within the bend is -fairly open, after which the tip of thene'edle is reduced to the consolidated laterally bent point 3' by swaging or similar treatment, so that the outer end of the needle beyond the beard will have substantially the same form as that shown in the first modification, namely,

tapered to a point and bent laterally and in the opposite direction to the projection of the spring beard 6'.

In applying the improved needles to their intended use, said needles, in requisite number, are mounted in series in the usual ledger, bar in the manner and order of the ordinary welt'hooks now employed, andthe assembly is applied to the machine in place of the welt bar assembly now in general use, and, when the welts are ready to be turned, the assembly may be readily engaged with the usual transfer device or rack. in substantially the same manner that the common form of footer bar is applied, with the important differences that drop stitches, resulting in seconds or impaired products, bending of needles, resulting in narrowing holes, are eliminated, and press oils are reduced to a minimum, even when the operations are performed by persons who have little or no skill or experience in turning welts. In short, by substituting the new needle for'the usual combination of welt hook and transfer point, welts may be turned quickly and successfully, even by comparative tyros, without danger of bending or breaking needles or dropping stitches, thereby avoiding the diiiiculties of operation and imperfections in the products, as stated, and also 

